Knitting-machine



W. A. INGALLS.

KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17. an.

Patented July 8, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

mm m 45 WM (3c,

8%T-Eg ues O 'rllu COLUMBIA IYLANOORAPH co.. WASHINGTON n c W. A. INGALLS.

KNITHNG MACHINE.

APPucmoN HLED FEB. 11. mm.

Patented July 8, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 WM): wgam Erszzfflf':

Zzzsfltorzzey Tm: COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH W. A. INGALLS.

KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11. I917.

1 309,288. Patented July 8, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

4 I IIIIIIII THE cnLunllA PLANDURAPH co., wAsHlNfi'IVJN. D. c.

WILLIS A. IN GALLS, OF TROY, NEW YORK.

KNITTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, 1919.

Application filed February 17, 1917. Serial No. 149,159.

Know all men by these presents that I, Wnaas A. Inoams, a subject of George the Fifth, King of England, residing in Troy, county or Rensselaer, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knitting-Machines, and hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use it.

ln making caps, sweaters and other articles of yarn it is frequently desired to use yarns of dilferent colors. size or tex turc. The object of my invention is to provide mechanism whereby any one of three of more yarns may be used, and whereby the yarn being used may be Withdrawn and either of two others inserted in its place, at such intervals and for such length of time, as may be desired. The invention consists essentially of a holder for the idle yarns, means for introducing the desired yarn into the needles and withdrawing the active yarns therefrom, together with means for introducing the yarn being withdrawn, into the holder, and for severing it.

Figure I is a plan view of a knitting machine showing my invention. Fig. II is a developed side elevation from A to A, Fig. I. Fig. III is a side elevation of the parts mounted on the vertical central shaft of the uuuwhinc, Fig. IV is a sectional elevation showing the method of mounting the yarn leaders hereinafter more fully referred to. Fig. V is a plan view of a section of the needle cylinder and cam plate with art of the device shown in Fig. I remove Fig. VI is a developed side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. V. Fig. VII is an additional plan view showing cam and lever for operating the cutter knife for severing the yarn and for operating the yarn holder. Fig. VIII is a side elevation showing method of mounting the vertically adjustable cams and operating the same by means of the pattern wheel. 7

1 is the frame of the machine. 1 is the nice for the cam cylinder. 2is the dial cam plate. 3 is the vertical central shaft of the marhiue. l is an arm mounted on the shaft 3 and extending in opposite directions toa point beyond the outside of the dial cam plate and is adapted to support the yarn leaders and parts of the operating mechanism for the yarn leaders. 4' also supports the arch-nary form or yarn guide 8, by means of the screw 5, arm 6 and stem 7. Mounted in the end 4 (Fig. II) of the arm ''l is a. stem 9 which supports, and acts as a pivot for, the yarn leaders 10, 11 and 12 as shown in Figs. I, II and IV. In the end of each leader is an aperture 13 through which the yarn passes to the yarn guide 8. The leader has a stem 1O (Fig. IV) attached to the crank 16. The stem 11 of the leader 11 is attached to crank and the stem 12' of the leader 12 is attached to crank H. The cranks are adjustable on the stems and may be secured in any desired position by screw 14 shown partially in dotted lines, Fig. I. Cranks 14, 15'and 16 are operatedby lovers 1?, 18 and 19, the first two appearing in dotted lines, Fig. I. The inner ends of these levers are attached to collars 17 18 and 19 rotatably mounted on the shaft 3 shown in Fig. III. The outer ends of the leaders 10, 11 and 12 are adapted to be swung from a point outside the cylinder needles, over the cam plate and beneath the recesses 20", (Fig. V) 20 and 2O in the plates 20, 20" and 20. These plates are secured at their right hand ends to the cam plate by means of a block 20, and the screws 20'=', 20 The opposite, or left hand end of these plates are free to move vertically, but are provided with a projection 21 adapted to engage a recess 21. (Fig. V) in the cam plate.

Mounted on the cam plate 2 is an arm 22 extending radially outward and then at right, angles and forming the support for the bent levers 24, and 26 all secured thereto by the screw spindle 23, (Figs. VII and II). These bent levers are designed to operate the collars 17, 18 and 19 and are connected thereto by the levers 21 25 and 26, (the last named not shown,) attached to the ends 24, 25 and 26 of said bent levers (Fig. I). The bent lever 24 has a projection 24 for engaging the point 28 of the pawl 28, (Fig. I). The bent levers 25 and 26 are identical in form and are provided with identical projections (not shown), but numbered 25 and 26 The pawl 28 is IOtatably mounted on pin 27 which in turn is screwed into the supporting arm 22. The faces of the bent levers 24, 25 and 26 are normally held a ainst the stop screws 29', 29", 29", Fig. II, y the springs 24, 25 and 26, which are in turn anchored to the arm 4 by the small arm 30 attached to 4 by screws 30 (Fin. I). The screws 29 are supported by he arm 29. which in turn. is

supported on the arm 22 by screws 2 (Fig. Ill. The outer ends of the bent levers 24'. 2.3 and 213 ai'e'adapted to enga e to be raised auddowered to form contact with any one oi bent levers 24. 25 and 213 as will be hereinafter more fully pointed out. The pawl 28 has a shoulder in adapted. when the outer endof the bent lever 25 tomes in contact with surface 31' on cam 31. to come in'contact with the surface 25 on the bent lever 25, (or such other bent lever as maybe in contact with the surface 3.1 on the cam 31) therebythrowing the point of the pawl out: olk'ontadt with the shoulder on the bent levers and releasing the bent levers. except the one so in contact. The released levers rcsun'ie theincontart with screws 25 Members -11" and ll arc adaptcd to connect the cams 251 and 11 and to hold them tlnrequired distance apart. The rod It: projects downward through the frame of the nur'hine and raised and lowered through levers 3'3 mounted on pin 32" supported by frame I33 and by the lever 33 in immediate contact with the pins 35 of the pattern wheel 31', (Fig. VIII). The pattern whecl'i l" is'ntounted on shaft 34 in frame 34 and operated in the usual man-.

ner and the pins 35 therein are placed according to the work t0"be done."'as is well understood in the art.

Mounted onthevertical shait 3 below the collar 19 is an additional arm 311 for op erating the yarn holder and the-yarn cutter. The yarn holder 37 mounted on the can] plate by the screw 37* (Fig. VI) and is so l cated with reference to the ends of the plates 20', 2t)". 20" that the forward end 37" is adapted to press against the upper side of the rear end and'projectionQl of said plates. Mounted on the; arm 36 is a support or casing 38 (Fig V) attached thereto by the screws 38 and adapted to contain and support the pin 38 andcoilspring 38'. Supported in an arnr'45 (Fig. VI) projecting from thclowenside of the cam plate is a screw'45 (Fig; V) which acts as a pivot and support-for the cutter knife 46: This cutter is in the form of a bell crank. Its inner surface at the forward end, 46", is sharp and is adapted, as it comes in contact with the sides of the cam plate, to sever the yarn. The radially extending arm of the cutter sup iiortsa pin 46 extending upward therefrom, (Figs. V and VI.) and adapted to engage the adjustment screw 47" in the extension" 47- of the arm 36. The screw 47* is provided with alock niitw47 Connected to the arm 36 by screw 39, is'a bar or link-39. Theo-liter end of this bar con nects with a link 40 at the point where the roller 40 is" attached to both by the screw 10". The inner end of the link 111 is attached to projecting arm 22 by screw 4-1). The roller 4-0" is adapt/(d t o come in contact with the inner edge of the vertically movable cam rl'when the latter is raised to the proper height by the pattern wheel met-ha nisnii \Vhen cam 11 is in its normal lowered) posit-ion, the bottom of the roller 11 is above cam 41 and its top is below cam 31.

The operation ol the machine is as fol lows: The yarn passing through the aperture 13 of the leader 12 in the position shown in Fig. V passes through the yarn guide 8 and into the needles in the usual manner. When i it is desired to change from the yarn passing through leader 1'5 and to substitute in the place thereoi the yarn passing through the eye 13 of leader 11. the screws in the pattern wheel are arranged, in accordance with common practicc. to cause cam 31 to be raised to such position that the outer point of bent l ver 25 will come in contact with projection 31 ot the cam 211. This, through bent lever 25. lever 25", rotatable collar 18 and lever 1 will cause the forward end of the leader 11 to be moved outward across the path of the needles and cause its yarn to pass intt'rthe yarn guide and to be taken up by the needles, leader 1? still remaining on the needles.) thereby splicing the yarn passing through the eye 13 of leader 11 into the fabric. Soon after the yarn being introduced to the needles has actually been taken hold of by the needle. and before a sullicient amount of the yarn newly intrraluced has been drawn into the needles to take up the slack between the holder and the point at. which the yarn was taken by the needle. the shoulder 41 of the (am 41 comes in contact with the roll'er 40'" mounted on link 40. and, through link 39 and arm 36, Withdraws the cutting surface 46 of the cutter knife from the side of the cam plate. and at the same time releases the forward end 37" of the dog from the holderplates releasing the end of the yarn so that it may be drawn into the fabric. The cutting surface of the cutter 46 and the forward end 37 of the dog are normally held againstthe side of the cam plate and against the rearward end of the yarn holder plates respectively by the spring 39 attached to link 39 at one end and to the cam plate at its other end. (Fig. VII). The holder. and cutter are held in this released position until cam 31 is no 'longer in contact with bent lever25. After the end of the yarnhas been released from the holder, the point of the lever 25 comes in contact Withthe projection 31" on cam 31, causing a further movement of bent lever 25* resulting-in the shoulder 25 on bent lever 25, coming in contact with the shoulder 28 on the pawl 28 and forcing the point 28 (the yarn passing through of the pawl out of contact with the projection 24 on bent lever 24, whereupon the latter, owing to the pull of the spring 24, through the levers and rotatable collar, causes the forward end of the leader 12 to swing inward between the upper surface of the cam plate and plate Withdrawing its yarn from the needles. The outer point of the bent lever still ren'iains in contact with 'am 31. When, however, the point of the bent lever 25 passes beyond the end of cam 31, the point 28 of the pawl 28 catches the shoulder 25 on bent lever 25, holding the bent lever in that position until the process is repeated upon the next change of yarn. The roller remains in contact with cam 41 until such time as the parts, moving with the cam plate, recede from the point where the yarn enters the needles, and the yarn is drawn under the point 37 of the dog 37, whereupon the roller 40 passes off the cud of cam 41 and the tension of the spring 39 causes the dog 37 to press down on the yarn and the cutter 46 to strike against the side of the cam plate and sever the yarn. The yarn remains clamped in this manner until by the adjustment of the screws in the pattern wheel the same process is repeated upon the introduction of the next succeeding yarn to replace the one so introduced.

While I have described a machine adapted to knit three yarns, it is apparent that by merely adding to the number of leaders, levers and cams, and increasing the capacity of the holder and the number of the op erative parts described, my invent ion may he used to knit four or more yarns, as may be desired, and I do not limit myself to '1 ma chine for knitting the number of yarns shown in the drawings and described in the lilitttlfiCfltlOIl.

Having described claim:-

I. In a circular automatic knitting machine for knitting two or more yarns, a yarn holder consisting of a plurality of plates suitably mounted and converging at their rear ends, said plates being adapted to revolve with the cam plate and to permit yarns extending from the leaders to the needles to pass between them, a dog rotating with the cam plate and adaptedto press against the rear end of said plates, and means for forcing said dog against the plates and for releasing the dog, whereby yarns extending from the leaders and between said plates to the cutter or to the needles may be held or released, as desired.

2. In a circular automatic knit-ting machine for knitting two or more yarns, a yarn holder consisting of a plurality of plates suitably mounted and converging at their rear ends, said plates being adapted to rerolve with the cam plate and to ermit varns extending from the leaders to t a needle: to

my invention I pass between them, a dog rotating with the cam plate, a spring adapted to press said dog against the rear end of said plates, and pattern chain mechanism and cams operatively connected with said dog for releasing the same, whereby yarns extending from the leaders and between said plates to the cutter or to the needles may be held or released, as desired.

3. In a circular automatic knitting machine for knitting two or more yarns, a yarn holder consisting of a plurality of plates suitably mounted and converging at their rear ends, said plates revolving with the cam plate and being provided with recesses to admit yarns extending to said yarn leaders,

a dog rotating with the cam plate and adapted to press against the rear end of said plates and means For forcing said dog against the plates and for releasing the same, whereby yarns extending from the leaders and behvccn said plates to the cutter or to the needles may be held or released, as desired.

4-. In a circular automatic knitting machine For knitting two or more yarns, a yarn holder consisting of a plurality of plates suitably mounted and converging at their rear ends, said plates revolving with the cam plate and being provided with recesses to admit yarns extending to said yarn leaders, a dog rotating with the cam plate, a spring adapted to press said dog against the rear end of said plates and pattern wheel mechanism and cams operativcly connected with said dog for releasing the same, whereby yarns extending from the leaders and between said plates to the cutter or to the needles may be held or released, as desired.

5. In a circular automatic knitting machine for knitting two or more yarns, a yarn holder consisting of a plurality of plates suitably mounted and converging at their rear ends, said plates being adapted to revolve with the cam plate and to permit yarns extending from the leadeis to the needles to pass between them, a dog rotating with the cam plate, a spring adapted to press said dog against the rear end of said plates, a vertically movable cam mounted on r the frame of the machine, pattern wheel mechanism for controlling the altitude of the vertically movable cam, a roller cam mounted on the cam plate and revolving therewith, said roller cam being adapted to engage the vertically movable cam, and operatively connected with said dog, a spring, suitably mounted, to hold the roller cam in contact with the vertically movable cam, whereby yarns extending from the leaders and between said plates to the cutter or to the needles may be held or released, as desired.

6. In a circular automatic knit-ting machine for knitting two or more yarns a varn holder con-lilting of a plurality of plates Hill ill-3 lilll ments thereof, whereby any one of the yarns may be introduced into the yarn guide and needles, released from the holder and used .in knitting, while the idle yarns are severed and their ends held clear of the needles.

12. A striping device for a circular automatic knittin machine consisting of the combination of a plurality of yarn leaders mounted on an arm extending from the central shaft of the machine, pattern wheel mechanism and selective bent levers pivotally mounted and operativcly connected with said leaders for controlling the selection of the yarn, a yarn guide also mounted on said arm, a yarn holder mounted on the cam plate for holding the ends of the idle yarns and consisting of a plurality of plates suitably mounted and converging at their rear ends and having a dog adapted to press against their rear ends, a yarn cutter mounted on the cam plate for severing the idle yarns, an arm extending from the central shaft of the machine operatively connected with said cutter and holder, a vertically movable cam mounted on the frame of the machine, a. roller ram adapted to engage said vertically movable cam and operatively connected with the last mentioned arm, pattern wheel mechanism operatively connected with said vertically movable cam for controlling the movements thereof, whereby any one of the yarns may be introduced into the yarn guide and needles, released from the holder and used in knitting, while the idle yarns are severed and their ends held clear of the needles.

13. A striping device for a circular automatic knitting machine consisting of the combination of a plurality of yarn leaders, a yarn guide. a yarn holder for holding the ends of the idle yarns. a. yarn cutter, selective bent levers pivotally mounted and operativelv connected with said leaders, each of said bent levers having a shoulder adapted to engage a pawl. a pawl adapted to engage the shoulders on said bent levers, said pawl having a shoulder adapted to come in contact with said bent levers at a point outside of their pivotal point, whereby the pawl is forced out of contact with the shoulder on the bent levers, pattern wheel mechanism for controlling the selection of the yarn, and means for mounting and operating said elements, whereby any one of the yarns may be introduced into the yarn guide and the needles, released from the holder, and used in knitting, while the idle yarns are severed and their ends held clear of the needles.

14. A stripin device for a circular automatic knitting machine consisting of the combination of a plurality of yarn leaders mounted on an arm extending from the central shaft of the machine. pattern wheel mechanism, and selective bent levers pivot ally mounted and operatively connected with said leaders, said bent levers being adapted at their outer ends to engage a vertically movable cam, a vertically movable cam mounted in the frame of the machine for controlling the selection of the yarn, a yarn guide also mounted on said arm, a yarn holder mounted on the cam plate for holding the ends of the idle yarns and consisting of a plurality of plates suitably mounted and converging at their rear ends and having a dog adapted to press against their rear ends, a yarn cutter mounted on the cam plate for severing the idle yarns, an arm extendin from the central shaft of the machine operatively connected with said cutter and holder, pattern wheel mechanism and cams operatively connected with. said last men tioned arm for controlling the movements thereof, whereby any one of the yarns may be introduced into the yarn guide and needles, released from the holder and used in knitting, while the idle yarns are severed and their ends held clear of the needles.

15. A striping device for a circular automatic knitting machine consisting of the combination of a plurality of yarn leaders mounted on an arm extending from the central shaft of the machine, pattern wheel mechanism and selective bent levers pivotally mounted and operatively connected with said leaders, said bent levers being adapted at their outer ends to engage a vertieally movable cam mounted inthe frame of the machine, a vertically movable cam for controlling the selection of the yarn, a yarn guide also mounted on said arm, a yarn holder mounted 011 the cam plate for holding the ends of the idle yarns and consisting of a plurality of plates suitably mounted and converging at their rear ends and having a dog adapted to press against their rear ends, a yarn cutter mounted on the cam plate for severing the idle yarns, an arm extending from the central shaft of the. machine operatively connected with said cutter and holder, a vertically movable cam mounted in the frame of the machine, a roller cam operatively connected with said last mentioned arm and adapted to engage said vertically movable cam, and pattern wheel mechanism. for moving said cam whereby any one of the yarns may be introduced into the yarn guide and needles, released from the holder and used in knitting, while the idle yarns are severed and their ends held clear of the needles.

16. A striping device for a circular automatic knitting machine consisting of the combination of a plurality of yarn leaders mounted on an arm extending from the centralshaft of the machine, selective bent levers pivotally mounted and operatively connected with said leaders, said bent levers beingadapted at their outer ends to engage a vertically movable cam, a vertically movlOO ltl

able cum mounted in the frame of the machine [or controlling the selection oi the yarn. a vain guide also mounted on said arm, a yarn holder mounted on the cam plate-i'l'or holdimg the ends of the idle yarnsarnd consisting oi a plurality of plates suitably mounted and converging at their reiu: elids and having a dog adapted to pressiagainst their rear ends. a yarn cutter mountedon the cam plate for severing the idle yarns. an arm extending from the central shaftnot the machine operatively connected with. said cutter and holder, a vertically movable cam mounted in the frame of the machine, a roller cam operatively connected with said lastrientioncd arm and adapted to engage said vertically movable cam. and pattern wheel mechanism for operating the vertically movable cams cimtrolling the bent. levers and the roller cam, whereby anyone of the yarns ma he introduced into the yarn guide and needles, rclcascd from the holder and used in knitting. while the idle yarns are severed and their ends held clear of the needles.

1?. A striping device for a circular automath: knitting machine consisting of the combination of a plurality of yarn leaders mounted on an arm extending from the central shaft of the machine, a. yarn guide suitabl v mounted, a varn holder mounted on the cam plate for holding the ends of the idle yarns, a varn cutter, pattern wheel mechanism. and sclective bent levers .operatively connected with said leaders for controlling the selection of the yarn. each of said bent levers having a shoulder adapted to engage a pawl. a pawl adapted to engage the shoulders on said bent levers, said pawl having a shoulder adapted to come in contact with said bent levers at a point outside of their pivotal point, whereby the pawl is forced out of Contact with'theshoulder on the bent levers, and means-for operating said yarn holder and for mounting and operating said yarn cutter, whereby any of the yarns may be released from the holder, introduced into the varnguide and the needles and used in knitting, while. the idle yarns are sevcred and their ends held clear of the needles.

18. A striping device for a oircularantomatic knitting machine consisting of the combination of a plurality of yarn leaders mounted on an arm extending from the'eentral shaft, a. yarn guide also mountedon said arm, a. yarn holder mounted on the cam ,plate f or holding the ends of the idle yarns, a yarn cutter, pattern wheel mechanism and. selective bent levers v0peratively connected with Said; leaders for controlling the selection oi the yarn, each of said bent levers having a shoulder adapted to engage a pawl. a pawl adapted to engage the shoulders on said bent levers, said pawl having a shoulder adapted to Milne in contact with said bent levers at a point outside of their pivotal point, whereby the paw] is forced out of contact with the shoulder n the bent levers, an arm extending'from the central shaft of the machine operatively connected with said cutter and holder, and pattern Wheel mechanism and earns operatively connected to the last men tioned arm for controlling the nmvcmcuts thereof, and of the holder and cutter, whereby any of the yarns may he llltlULl'lLttl into the yarn guide and the needles, released l'rom the yarn holder and used in knitting. whitthe idle yarns are severed and their ends held elearoi the needles.

1? A striping device for a l'il' ular aut matic knitting machine eonsistimg oi tin combination of a plurality oi yarn leaders mounted on an arm extending from the i't' i tral shaft of the machine, bcut levers piania-ll v mounted on the cam plate and operatively connected at one end to said leader.- anthadapted at their opposite ends to engage a vertically movable cam mounted in the frame of -the machine, each of said bum levers having a shoulder adapted to engage a pawl, a pawl adapted to engage the shoulders on said .bcnt levers, said pawl having a. shoulder adapted to come in contact with said bent levers at a point outside oi their pivotal point, whereh the pawl is itorccd out of contact with the. shoulder on the litlll levers, pattern wheel mechanism for operat ing the vertically movable caln, a yarn gruidi suitably mounted, a arn holder mounted on the cam plate for holding the ends of the idle yarns, a yarn cutter mounted on the cam, plate for severing the ends of the idle var11s,.and means for operating said yarn holder and said yarn cutter, whereh any o t the yarns may be introduced into the yarn guideiand the needles, and released from the holder and used in knitting while the idle yarns are severed and their ends held clear of the needles.

In witness whereof I hereunto set mvhaud at] (rlleveland; Ohio, this 10th day of Februar v,=1917.

i Pumas, E. N." CONRAD.

Gepies of thisipaitent maynbe obtained ,Ol'vflYQpflQllt umh, by, addressing the "Gemm'rssionerof Patents, i.Waahiugton,. D. G."

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